The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, today led the tributes to the former Ireland and Lions lock Moss Keane, who has died at the age of 62 after a long fight with cancer. Keane won 51 caps during a 10-year Test career and toured New Zealand with the 1977 British and Irish Lions. He was also a member of the 1978 Munster team who beat the All Blacks.

"I am saddened to learn today of the untimely passing of Moss Keane, who was one of the great gentlemen of Irish sport," Cowen said. "He will be sadly missed by his many fans and admirers across the sporting world. Moss Keane was one of the finest rugby players Ireland has ever produced.

"He was among rugby's best-known characters and a legend of the game at home and abroad, representing Munster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions with great distinction. He was also an accomplished Gaelic footballer in his younger days.

"Moss will, of course, always be associated with the heroic Munster side of 1978 that defeated the All Blacks at Thomond Park. Moss's loss will be felt most deeply by those who knew him best. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Moss's family, his wife Anne, daughters Sarah and Anne Marie, and his friends."

Ireland won the Five Nations Championship during Keane's first international season in 1974, and he was ever-present during their Triple Crown-winning campaign eight years later alongside the likes of Fergus Slattery, Donal Lenihan and Phil Orr.

The Irish Rugby Football Union president, Caleb Powell, said: "Quite simply Irish rugby has lost one of its most genuine characters and legends of the game.

"Moss had ability on the field that no one could doubt from his record at club, provincial and international level. Lansdowne, Munster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions all benefited from his presence and ensured that his reputation will live long in the memories of not only Irish rugby, but world rugby."

Arthur Spring, the mayor of Tralee, added: "The word legend is often bandied about, but in the case of Moss it is a tribute that was well and truly deserved."

A lifelong friend and former All-Ireland Kerry footballer Jimmy Deenihan, now Fine Gael's sports spokesman, said it was a sad day for all involved in sport, particularly in Kerry. "It is no exaggeration to say that Moss was one of the best-known Kerrymen of his generation and he retained a deep affection for Currow, where he was born," he said.

"I remember well the Munster final of 1977 when the Kerry team, of which I was a member, beat Cork. He demonstrated his deep affection for his home county when he said, while on tour with the Lions, that the highlight of the tour was 'when I heard that Kerry beat Cork.'"